What is Code Push (OTA Updates)?

Code push delivers selected code and asset changes to mobile users over the air without submitting a new binary to the app stores. In React Native and similar stacks, a JavaScript bundle, small text fixes, visual assets, or feature flag settings can be updated this way.

What It Is Used For

Code push is useful for critical copy fixes, small UI corrections, remotely disabling a risky feature, or rolling back a bad release quickly. The user usually receives the update on app start or in the background. Release channels, version targeting, and percentage rollout can reduce deployment risk.

Limits

Adding a native module, changing permissions, upgrading platform SDKs, or changing platform-level behavior usually requires a store release. Store policies also expect OTA updates not to change the fundamental purpose of the app. Code push should therefore be treated as an additional delivery channel for specific update classes, not a replacement for full release management.

In React Native projects, code push should be connected to CI/CD, testing, staged rollout, and rollback plans. In a hybrid app, version compatibility between web content and the native shell needs separate tracking.